Candy Cane Lane in Williamsport, PA

It’s the time of year when many people around the world are celebrating the holidays in one way or another and signs of the season exist. Candy Cane Lane in Williamsport PA is a huge tradition for many people. Whether you celebrate a certain holiday or not, the main thing is taking the time to be together with loved ones during this festive time of year.

Updated Candy Cane Lane in Williamsport, PA 2023 info at the end of post!!! 🙂

With the holiday season underway, there could be some cool things around your neighborhood that you may not even be aware of.  If you are local to Williamsport, PA then make sure you check out Candy Cane Lane. If you are not local, google the towns around you. Many towns will have a “hot spot” area for driving around to see the lights. Throw in a dinner and a little shopping and you’ve got a festive night out on the town.

Driving around to see the lights is a tradition many families have. It’s one of many small ways to be together, laugh and continue growing family and friend bonds. In case you can’t get out to see any lights this year, perhaps your living abroad and missing the flare of American holiday lights or maybe you’ve never been to the states, here is a look at one (of many decorated streets in the country) and what is referred to as Candy Cane Lane in Williamsport, PA.

This hill is the start of Candy Cane Lane, the name given to the 200 Block of Williamsport, PA. Since 1957 the neighborhood block has been splashing out with all sorts of holiday decorations. In 2007, the street celebrated its 50th year of decorating and was honored with a parade. The mayor of the borough proclaimed the month of December as, “Candy Cane Lane month forever more…”

It’s a welcoming street and quite an undertaking.

The whole streets gets confined to one way traffic and police officers are stationed all around to direct traffic. Similar to this reindeer, they don’t want any fires, traffic jams or trouble to start.

We actually went up the street first on a historic trolley.

The Williamsport Trolleys offers rides through Candy Cane Lane in a historic trolley car. In the mid-1800s Williamsport was know as the lumber capital of the world and city of millionaires.

It was because of these millionaires providing funds the city got the first form of public transport, the streetcar. In 1863 Governor Andrew Curtain signed a charter and created the Williamsport Passenger Railway Company.

As our trolley chugged up the steep hill, I thought about how the first trolleys were horse drawn. In the winter there were small stoves to keep passengers warm. That day I enjoyed an air temperature controlled trolley with a heater blowing out hot air keeping us nice and toasty.

There were so many various types of decorations. A lady at the Peter Herdic Transportation Museum (where the tour starts and ends) told us that if any of the home owners on the block wish to sell their house and move, a condition of the sale is they have to leave all their Christmas decorations with the house. The next owners then assume the responsibility to continue the decorating tradition.

After the trolley ride we went back to walk the street. We were trying to mimic the snowman behind us and I don’t know why my head looks disproportionately small.

Want your own cute Christmas sweater? Browse here. You’re welcome.

Walking the streets was definitely the way to go. I mean, come on, cruising by in the trolley and/or your own car, we totally would have missed this cute family of snowmen waving!

By choosing to walk we were also able to get up close to the toy factory village to see everything better.

There were so many varied lights and displays – it was impressive.

This was one of our favorite displays. Thought this was so funny – big bully penguins taking that poor snowman’s head.

Naughty penguin – but hey, if you want to get your own no one is judging. 

Towards the end of the two main blocks was this gentle reminder of the season. Although I think mainstream media often draws our attention to the gift buying and cyber deals, the season is one for celebrating giving and receiving love. At times I can see how it’s easy to get swept away with all the advertisements, bells and whistles of the season. Yet each of us have the ability to tune out what is going on around us. Turn off the TV. Turn off the radio. Create a little space of tranquility in your own dwelling and focus on the family, friends and good things around you.

So no matter where you find yourself this holiday season and whatever parts you celebrate or don’t celebrate, may this be a time of reflection and thanks. Happy Holidays.

Here’s just a little indicator of how fun it can be to go out looking for lights. 😉

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If you go:

Here is the link so you can plan for next year. For 2023 tickets are reserveable on December 7,8,9,10 at cost $10 pp (infants 2 yrs and younger no charge) and include 35 min trolley ride and entrance to the museum. Despite the music on the trolley being too loud, if you are into history, trains and trolleys, it was good value for money. Tours begin at the Lycoming County Visitors Center, located at 102 W. Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA.

During the summer, you can also take a historic trolley ride through Millionaires Row.

You can drive your own car through Candy Cane Lane and/or walk. If you are able, I would definitely recommend walking. Just find a place to park before all the congestion starts and the address is:

200 Block Summer Street, Willamsport, PA 17702

There is a facebook page here and you can also read with wikipedia entry here about Candy Cane Lane.

The annual Candy Cane Lane Run is happening December 22, 2022.

Make a day trip:

Downtown Wiliamsport has a decent number of nice stores for shopping and to support small businesses. You can browse the Williamsport Business Association, or just park and stroll the main street.

The Bullfrog Brewery is one of our favorite places for eating, having a nice beer or their special root beer if you don’t drink alcohol. Tip: try to go just before 5 o’clock and beat the dinner rush. It is a popular restaurant and we are always so glad when we are able to get there early. 

Also, just for the heck of mentioning, if you don’t know about the grocery store Wegmans, go there. Wegmans is one of the best grocery stores you can find. There are too many great reasons to explain all the reasons Wegmans rocks. So if you are not familiar with the store, check it out. It’s a grocery store with real food.

And if you can’t go to Candy Cane Lane, google the areas around you. You might just discover a local wonder in your own back yard that you never even knew existed.

Need a little more travel planning?

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